Waste oil based water production system

ABSTRACT

This invention includes embodiments which disclose a system for the disposal and or combustion of waste oil for use in a chiller operatively connected to one or more evaporators, the system providing for the collection, storage and/or treatment and dispensation of potable or drinkable water.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application does not claim priority from any other application.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a waste oil-based water production system anda process which utilizes waste oil via a chiller to produce, store,treat and/or dispense potable and/or drinkable water.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In many parts of the world there is a significant issue with thedisposition of waste oil generated from numerous sources, including fromautomobiles and other industrial equipment. At the same time and in manyof the same and other parts of the world, there is a shortage of watersufficient quality for use as potable water and/or for use as drinkingwater.

This invention provides a solution for these issues by providing an airto water conversion that, while cleanly burning waste oil, also providesa source of water derived from the condensation of the moisture orhumidity (water) in the ambient air.

It is therefore an object of embodiments of this invention to provide asystem which concurrently and relatively cleanly burns waste oil andconverts the water vapor in the ambient air to potable or drinkablewater.

It is also an object of embodiments of this invention to provide aprocess which utilizes by combusting in a relatively clean manner wasteoil to provide energy to a chiller which causes vapor in the air tocondense for collection, treatment, storage and/or dispensation.

While the invention was motivated in addressing some objectives, it isin no way so limited. The invention is only limited by the accompanyingclaims as literally worded, without interpretative or other limitingreference to the specification, and in accordance with the doctrine ofequivalents. Other objects, features, and advantages of this inventionwill appear from the specification, claims, and accompanying drawingswhich form a part hereof. In carrying out the objects of this invention,it is to be understood that its essential features are susceptible tochange in design and structural arrangement, with only one practical andpreferred embodiment being illustrated in the accompanying drawings, asrequired.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred embodiments of the invention are described below withreference to the following accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram representation of one example of elementscombined to practice embodiments of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of one example of a waste oilburner based chiller assembly which may be utilized in practicingembodiments of this invention; and

FIG. 3 is a block diagram representation of one example of a processwhich may be utilized in order to practice embodiments of thisinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Many of the fastening, connection, manufacturing and other means andcomponents utilized in this invention are widely known and used in thefield of the invention described, and their exact nature or type is notnecessary for an understanding and use of the invention by a personskilled in the art or science; therefore, they will not be discussed insignificant detail. Furthermore, the various components shown ordescribed herein for any specific application of this invention can bevaried or altered as anticipated by this invention and the practice of aspecific application or embodiment of any element may already be widelyknown or used in the art or by persons skilled in the art or science;therefore, each will not be discussed in significant detail.

The terms “a”, “an” and “the” as used in the claims herein are used inconformance with long-standing claim drafting practice and not in alimiting way. Unless specifically set forth herein, the terms “a”, “an”and “the” are not limited to one of such elements, but instead mean “atleast one”.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram representation of an example of a combinationof elements that may be used to practice embodiments of this invention,illustrating a waste of oil-based air to water system 100, a waste oilburner 104, combustion chamber 106, water chiller 108, evaporator 110,water collector, water treatment 112, a water storage apparatus 114 anda water dispenser 115.

FIG. 1 shows how the waste oil burner 104 converts waste oil into energyat 116, providing the energy to the combustion chamber 106. Thecombustion chamber output provides thermal energy to chilling system at118 such that the water chiller 108 receives the energy from chillingfunctions, as described more fully below.

At step 120, the water chiller circulates cold fluid to and through theone or more evaporators 110 a and 110 b. It will be appreciated thatbased on relative sizing and the desired application or embodiment, oneor any number of additional evaporators may be utilized within thecontemplation of this invention. The ambient air is condensed at 122,thereby producing usable water from the water vapor that was previouslyin the air. The condensed water may then be collected in a watercollector 127, which may also be combined with and as a water storagecontainer 114. In some embodiments of this invention the water may betreated for bacteria and/or other undesirables, illustrated by box 112.The water is then provided to a water storage container or tank 114, andthen further provided for possible use by a water dispenser 115, asreflected by step 125.

A water dispenser which may be utilized as contemplated by thisinvention, may be any one of a number of different known waterdispensers available with no one in particular being required topractice this invention. For example a water dispenser as is publiclyavailable from AWG International, Bellingham, Wash., as well as any oneof a number of other brands and models, may be used.

In order to provide a workable system, a form of water treatment ispreferably used via water treatment apparatus 112. The water treatmentapparatus may provide any one of a number of different levels of watertreatment and purification, such as water purification at 124 fordrinking water, hot water or other desired levels of purification. Oncethe water is purified as desired at step 124, then the water may bestored in a water storage apparatus 114—although those of ordinary skillin the art will recognize that the treatment may occur at or before thewater collector 127, at or before the water storage 114 and/or at orbefore the water dispenser 115, within the contemplation of thisinvention.

The water as treated may then be dispensed in any one of a number ofdifferent ways, including that shown by step 125 wherein the water isprovided to a water dispenser 115 wherein it may be removed as desiredfor the intended use(s). The dispenser may also be a dispensing machinewhich are generally known, and wherein a fee may be charged, for thedispensing of the water.

As one example of a chiller unit which may be utilized in practicingsome embodiments of this invention, U.S. Pat. No. 5,724,829, which ishereby incorporated by this reference as though fully set forth herein.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a water chiller which may be utilizedin practicing some embodiments of this invention, illustrating agenerator 201, a condenser 202 with condenser coils 202 a, a refrigerantrestrictor 203, an evaporator 204 with evaporator coils 204 a, anabsorber 205, a solution pump 206, a water pump 207, a source of heat orburner 208 and a heat exchanger 209 attached to the generator 201. Insome embodiments of this invention, the generator 201 may contain asolution of ammonia and water.

FIG. 2 further illustrates pump 207 which pumps water coming from thechiller evaporator 204 to one or more external evaporators 265, andreturn water pipe 210 through which return water may normally be pipedback to the chiller evaporator 204, pipe 213 and solution restrictor 212between the generator 201 and the absorber 205 and pipe 211 throughwhich the ammonia and water solution is pumped by solution pump 206 backto the generator 201. However in this case, the water is pumped from thechiller evaporator 204 to one or other evaporators 265, with a returnline 210.

For thermostatically controlled chillers, when the thermostat calls forthe space to be cooled, a source of heat or burner heats the generator201, causing the ammonia solution in the generator 201 to boil. Duringthe boiling process within the generator 201, the ammonia in solution isseparated from the water, leaves the generator 201 and enters thecondenser 202, where it is condensed to liquid form. As the liquidammonia leaves the condenser 202, it passes through a refrigerantrestrictor 203, which lowers the pressure as the ammonia enters theevaporator 204.

In the evaporators 204 and 265, the liquid ammonia may vaporize to agaseous state, and during the vaporization, heat is absorbed from thewater dripping over the outer surface of the evaporator coils 204 a and265 a, thereby cooling the water to a predetermined temperature,generally in the forty five degrees Fahrenheit range. The chilled wateris then pumped to the space where cooling is desired. It will beappreciated that this invention is not limited to a particular type ormanufacture of evaporator.

The gaseous ammonia from the evaporator 204 then enters the absorber 205where it is absorbed into water and the ammonia-water solution is thenpumped by solution pump 206 back to the generator 201 for re-use. Thegenerator 201 may be an enclosure with a heat exchanger connected to it.

FIG. 2 also illustrates an example of a waste oil heater assembly 230, acombustion chamber 240, a grate 231, a plenum 241, a compressed air tank232 which receives compressed air from a source of compressed airthrough air pipe 238, an air manifold 233 which includes a plurality ofair holes 234 in the air manifold 233 and an air valve 237 in the airmanifold 233 between the air holes 234 and the air tank 232. The wasteoil heater assembly 230 generally receives the waste oil from an oilstorage tank, preheats the waste oil and atomizes it through a nozzle.The flow of atomized waste oil from the nozzle is typically ignited byelectrode positioned near the nozzle, thereby causing a flame andgenerating the heat. Forced convection can be used to maintain anddirect the flow of the products of combustion. The plenum 241 is acontinuation of the combustion chamber 240 and facilitates, contains anddirects the movement of the hot products of combustion to the heatexchanger on the generator 201. The grate 231 may be nine gaugeinterwoven wire in a grid arrangement with one-quarter inch openings.The air tank 232 may be an eight gallon tank and air pipe 238 is oneinch interior diameter piping. Although compressed air is used due toits availability and cost, any other gases could likewise be used withinthe contemplation of this invention.

The system may include a means for controlling the actuation of thesource compressed air, the preferred embodiment of which includes asolenoid, set to actuate an air valve 237 at pre-determined timeintervals, operates the air valve 237 thereby causing it to open andrelease the compressed air through the air holes 234 and over the heattransfer surface on the generator 201. The operation of the air valveevery ten minutes is currently the preferred time interval to maintainthe heat transfer surface on the generator sufficiently clean. Thesolenoid causes the valve to open for approximately two seconds. Theblast of air removes the soot and residue from the heat transfersurface, which is then blown against exhaust assembly wall 239, where itdrops into particulate removal container 236. The other products ofcombustion, which are at elevated temperatures, flow through exhaustassembly 235 and are thereby discharged.

FIG. 2 further schematically illustrates one example of a watercollection, storage and dispenser elements which may be utilized in someembodiments of this invention. FIG. 2 illustrates how a secondevaporator 265 with evaporator tubes 265 a may be operatively connectedto the chiller evaporator 204, and produces the desired water. There maybut need not be a separate water collector 271 to receive the waterproduced by the condensation within evaporator 265 and received viaconduit 207. Pump 272 may be used to pump the water to water treatment273 or directly to the storage tank 274. From the storage tank, thewater is made available to the water dispenser 275. It will beappreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that the collectiontank 270 and the storage tank 274 may be combined into an integratedcollection/storage tank in some embodiments of this invention, and asdiscussed elsewhere herein, the water treatment may be provided (if itis provided in a particular embodiment) at any one or more of a numberof different locations or stages.

It will be appreciated that FIG. 2 only shows one evaporator 265external to the chiller; however this invention contemplates one or moreevaporators depending on the desired embodiment and application—allwithin the scope of this invention.

Examples of waste oil heater assemblies and systems which can beutilized in combination with the chiller are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.4,797,089 and 4,877,395, issued to the inventors herein, and areincorporated herein by reference.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram representation of one example of a processwhich may be utilized in order to practice embodiments of thisinvention. FIG. 3 illustrates the steps of providing a source of wasteoil at step 251, delivering waste oil from that source of waste oil to astorage tank at step 252, pumping said waste oil from said storage tankto a waste oil burner at step 253, combusting the waste oil and therebyproducing heat at step 254; utilizing heat from the combustion of thewaste oil in a chiller at step 255; providing for the condensation ofwater vapor from the air at step 256; collecting the resultingcondensate water at step 257; treating and/or storing the condensatewater at step 258 and potentially storing the condensate water at step259 (which in some embodiments, will be to make it available to or in adispenser). From the dispenser, the water may be utilized in any one ofa number of different ways, such as the vending machine type ofdispenser which provides the water for a fee, or in any one of a numberof different ways, all within the contemplation of embodiments of thisinvention.

The steps illustrated in FIG. 3 may be practiced in any one of a numberof different ways within the contemplation of this invention, ascomponents to practice said steps are known to those of ordinary skillin the art.

As will be appreciated by those of reasonable skill in the art, thereare numerous embodiments to this invention, and variations of elements,components and combinations, which may be used, all within the scope ofthis invention.

One embodiment of this invention, for example, is a waste oil basedchiller water production system comprising: a source of waste oil; awaste oil burner with a combustion chamber, operatively connected to thesource of waste oil to receive waste oil therefrom for combustion; awater chiller configured to receive heat from the waste oil burner, anevaporator configured to receive fluid from the chiller with theevaporator further configured to allow water vapor in air surroundingthe evaporator to condense; and a water collector configured relative tothe evaporator to receive water condensed on the evaporator.

Further embodiments of that described in the preceding paragraph mayinclude a waste oil based chiller water production system furthercomprising a water treatment system operatively connected to the watercollector and configured to receive water therefrom and treat or purifythe water; or such a waste oil based chiller further comprising a waterstorage tank operatively connected to the water collector and configuredto receive water from the water storage collector. The foregoing mayfurther include a water dispenser operatively connected to the waterstorage tank and configured to receive water from the water storage tankfor dispensation.

The embodiments described above may also include a water dispenseroperatively connected to the water collector and configured to receivewater from the water collector for dispensation. It will be appreciatedby those of ordinary skill in the art that the water dispenser may be ofany one of a number of different types, such as a vending machine typeof dispenser.

In yet other embodiments of this invention, a process for theutilization of waste oil to produce usable water via a chiller may beprovided which includes the following: providing a source of waste oil;providing a waste oil storage tank; providing a waste oil burneroperatively connected to the waste oil storage tank; providing waste oilto the storage tank; pumping said waste oil from said storage tank tothe waste oil burner; combusting the waste oil in the waste oil burnerand thereby producing heat energy; providing a water chiller; utilizingthe heat energy from the combustion of the waste oil in the waterchiller; providing one or more evaporators operatively connected to thewater chiller, collecting condensate water from the evaporator; andproviding the condensate water for further dispensation.

Further embodiments of that described in the preceding paragraph mayinclude further treating the condensate water for bacterial after it iscollected. Still further embodiments may also include providing a waterstorage tank operatively connected to receive condensate water collectedand provide storage therefore; and a water dispenser operativelyconnected to receive water from the water storage tank and facilitateits dispensation. Again, those of ordinary skill in the art willappreciate that the water dispenser may be any one of a number ofdifferent types of water dispensers, such as a vending machine type ofwater dispenser.

In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described inlanguage more or less specific as to structural and methodical features.It is to be understood, however, that the invention is not limited tothe specific features shown and described, since the means hereindisclosed comprise preferred forms of putting the invention into effect.The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms ormodifications within the proper scope of the appended claimsappropriately interpreted in accordance with the doctrine ofequivalents.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A waste oil based chiller water productionsystem comprising: a source of waste oil a waste oil burner with acombustion chamber, operatively connected to the source of waste oil toreceive waste oil therefrom for combustion; a water chiller configuredto receive heat from the waste oil burner, the water chiller; one ormore evaporators operatively connected to the chiller to receive waterfrom the chiller, and the one or more evaporators further configured tocause water vapor from air to condense; and a water collector configuredrelative to the evaporator to receive water condensed on the evaporator.2. A waste oil based chiller water production system as recited in claim1, and further comprising: a water treatment system operativelyconnected to the water collector and configured to receive watertherefrom and treat or purify the water.
 3. A waste oil based chillerwater production system as recited in claim 1, and further comprising awater storage tank operatively connected to the water collector andconfigured to receive water from the water storage collector.
 4. A wasteoil based chiller water production system as recited in claim 3, andfurther comprising a water dispenser operatively connected to the waterstorage tank and configured to receive water from the water storage tankfor dispensation.
 5. A waste oil based chiller water production systemas recited in claim 1, and further comprising a water dispenseroperatively connected to the water collector and configured to receivewater from the water collector for dispensation.
 6. A process for theutilization of waste oil to produce usable water via a chillercomprising the following: providing a source of waste oil; providing awaste oil storage tank; providing a waste oil burner operativelyconnected to the waste oil storage tank; providing waste oil to thestorage tank; pumping said waste oil from said storage tank to the wasteoil burner; combusting the waste oil in the waste oil burner and therebyproducing heat energy; providing a water chiller; utilizing the heatenergy from the combustion of the waste oil in the water chiller;providing one or more evaporators operatively connected to receive waterfrom the water chiller and further configured to cause water vapor fromair to condense; and providing the condensate water for furtherdispensation.
 7. A process for the utilization of waste oil to produceusable water via a chiller as recited in claim 6, and further treatingthe condensate water for bacterial after it is collected.
 8. A processfor the utilization of waste oil to produce usable water via a chilleras recited in claim 6, and further providing a water storage tankoperatively connected to receive condensate water collected and providestorage therefore; and a water dispenser operatively connected toreceive water from the water storage tank and facilitate itsdispensation.
 9. A process for the utilization of waste oil to produceusable water via a chiller as recited in claim 8, and further the waterdispenser is a vending machine type of water dispenser.